==================================Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter Electronic Design Magazine - http://www.planetee.com February 12, 2003
=============================*************************ADVERTISEMENT************************** Sponsored by: Agilent digital and analog oscilloscopes offer bandwidths from 60 MHz to 2.25 GHz and up to 16 MB deep memory. Mixed signal scopes seamlessly integrate up to 20 channels. Also check out Agilent's function & pulse generators to complete your design bench. Selection guide, specifications & application notes. For more information, go to: http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07Lb0Ad **************************************************************** You've received this e-newsletter for one of two reasons: 1) you subscribe to Electronic Design magazine 2) you've signed up for it at http://www.planetee.com Please see below for unsubscribe and address-change instructions. Today's Table of Contents: 1. Editor's View -- Commentary 2. News -- From The Editors 3. Announcements: Opportunities not to be missed 4. Magazine Highlights ********************** 1. Editor's View -- Exclusive to Electronic Design UPDATE ********************** Power And Data Worlds Collide, Bringing Benefits To Both By David G. Morrison, Analog and Power Editor The technologies of power and data transmission are coming together in ways that could shape product development for years to come. One area where these two disparate technologies are converging is power-over-LAN, which uses Ethernet wiring to distribute -48-V power to peripheral devices. The power-over-LAN architecture boosts the reliability of the network because it extends backed-up power to devices across the network. The driving force behind deployment of power-over-LAN may be the arrival of IP phones because users will expect these devices to have the same reliability they've gown accustomed to with POTS (plain old telephone service) phones. Companies have already begun developing and commercializing the components needed to implement power-over-LAN per IEEE 802.3af. But while power-over-LAN developers seek to use data lines to transmit power, others are looking to transmit data over power lines. The technique is already being applied in commercial and industrial settings. Although powerline communications is not new, at least one recent development suggests that it may be poised to leap into the mass-market consumer realm. The telltale development comes out of Echelon, a San Jose-based company that specializes in low-speed powerline networking for control applications. Echelon recently unveiled two powerline transceiver ICs that will reduce the cost of adding powerline networking capability from $30 to less than $10. (For more on Echelon's chips, the PL3120 and PL3150, see http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07Ow0A2 or write to mailto:[email protected]) The $10 price point is said to be critical for deploying powerline communications in the home. According to Echelon, hitting this mark makes it possible to add the powerline networking capability to appliances such as refrigerators, washers, and dryers. It also permits powerline networking to be added to heating and air conditioning, lighting, and security systems. Some of the earliest applications may be in "smart" electronic meters that will give the utilities greater information about and control over power going to the home. Powerline networking affords some obvious and not-so-obvious benefits to consumers. By enabling loadsharing, powerline networking will help utilities operate more efficiently with the infrastructure they have. This could lessen the need to build more plants, while helping to avoid outages. The utilities may also be able to offer money-saving billing options, like time-of-use pricing and prepaid power distribution plans for seasonal residences. Within the home, consumers may benefit from having remote control over appliances and various electrical systems. Although the concept of networked appliances can be taken to absurd lengths (think "Bluetooth toaster"), there could be value to having remote access to a security system, or to having a faulty appliance transmit diagnostics to a service center. It's hard to say what network-enabled features consumers will really want. But with the cost of powerline networking technology coming down, equipment manufacturers should soon be able to test the myriad possibilities by letting consumers decide. ********************** 2. News -- From The Editors ********************* ***Foundry Qualifies BiCMOS Process Semiconductor foundry PolarFab has qualified its production of 8-in. wafers for its PBC4 0.5-micron BiCMOS process. The process is also available on 6-in. wafers. Developed for smart-power and power-management applications, PBC4 can integrate 0.5-micron CMOS with high-voltage drivers. The PBC4 process features include dual gate oxides (5.5 and 16 V); complementary n- and p-channel MOSFETs with 5-, 16-, and 30-V ratings; a 16-V poly-poly capacitor; a ZTC poly resistor; and a vertical npn transistor. In addition, the process offers either two- or three-layer metal. Other devices and 40-V ratings will be added this year. Wafer pricing starts at $1786 for a 25/week run rate. For more information, write mailto:[email protected], or see http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07mZ0A3 ***SBC Features Extended Temperature-Range The SAT-520Plus single-bord computer (SBC) combines an x86-compatible, 133-MHz AMD SC520 with a range of peripherals, including a 10/100-Mbit/s Ethernet interface, M-Systems DiskOnChip interface, and video support. The latter handles high-resolution CRT or flat-panel devices. The system is expandable using PC/104Plus boards. It measures 4.5 by 7.1 in. and operates from -40°C to 85°C. The board dissipates less than 6 W. Check out http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07VI0AO ***ADC Families Extend The Meaning Of Multiple Choice Several families of successive approximation register analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) from Analog Devices Inc. aim to provide an exact part for any ADC function. Selection criteria include bit resolution, single-ended or differential, and multichannel devices. Single-ended-input families feature the AD747x series with conversion rates of 1000 ksamples/s and 8- to 12-bit resolution, as well as the AD79XX series with 10- or 12-bit resolution at 250 ksamples/s. For higher resolutions, the AD7485 runs 14 bits at 1000 ksamples/s, while the AD7680 runs 16 bits at 100 ksamples/s. Differential parts start with 10-bit resolution and either 600 or 1000 ksamples/s in the AD744x series and jump to 12 bits in the AD745x series with conversion rates that go from 100 to 1000 ksamples/s. There’s a tradeoff, though -- the higher the conversion rate, the higher the power consumption. In the multichannel arena, the AD788x family offers 12-bit resolution at 125 ksamples/s on either two or eight channels. The AD790x parts, which run at 1000 ksamples/s with four or eight channels, are 8-bit converters. The AD791x parts are 10-bit converters, and the AD782x parts are 12-bit converters. The x designates the number of channels for this set. The AD7923 (four channels) and AD7927 (eight channels) are 12-bit converters that digitize at 250 ksamples/s. The AD7490 is a 16-channel, 12-bit, 1000-ksample/s device. Single-channel versions are available in SOT-23 and SC-70 packages. The SC-70 is approximately half the size of a SOT-23. ADI offers pin-compatible ADCs with 8- to 16-bit resolution in SOT-23s. All products are available now at prices from $1.50 to $5.75 per unit in 1000-piece quantities. They’re specified for the -40°C to 85°C industrial temperature range. For more information, contact Analog Devices at (800) 262-5643 or http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ05Tq0Ay ***Starter Kits Simplify Data Acquisition Two relatively inexpensive starter kits from Dataq, the 12-bit DI-154RS and the 10-bit DI-194RS, allow anyone to quickly put together a PC-based data-acquisition system for collecting up to 240 samples/s. Both have ready-to-run WinDaq/Lite software, a real-time display, and playback and analysis capability without programming. They include an ActiveX control library for use with any Windows programming language like Visual C, Delphi, Visual Basic, and LabView. They connect to a PC’s serial port and provide four bipolar analog input channels for up to +/-10-V full-scale preamplified signals, and two digital input channels for remote operations through WinDaq software. A single digital output is built in with a variable-frequency square-wave signal. The 12-bit version also comes with WinDaqXL software for Excel spreadsheets. The 154RS and 194RS cost $149.95 and $24.95, respectively. Availability is from stock and only through Dataq’s Web site. Contact Dataq Instruments Inc. at (330) 666-5434 or http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07ma0AB ***Low-Cost Analog Scope Adds 50-MHz Frequency Counter The Model 2121 30-MHz dual-channel analog oscilloscope incorporates a 50-MHz frequency counter in a compact (7- by 17.25- by 14.5-in.) benchtop unit. This small, dual-channel, 30-MHz unit targets education, quality control, and other applications. Features include dual- or single-trace operation, sensitivity of 5 mV/div. to 5 V/div., auto/normal triggered sweep with ac, TVH, TVV, and line coupling, and a calibrated 23-step timebase with a X10 magnifier. The instrument is accurate to within +/-3% (±5% at X5). A 10-step input attenuator is available in a 1-2-5 sequence. The 0.1- to 50-MHz frequency counter has a display resolution from 0.001 Hz to 1 kHz, is accurate to within 0.01% +1 digit, and operates from an 18.432-MHz timebase. Because the input of the counter is coupled with either input channel of the oscilloscope, the counter uses the same trigger-level setting as the oscilloscope. As a result, it can be used with more complex waveforms than allowed by many standalone frequency counters. The Model 2121's $599 price tag includes two PR-33A X1/X10 probes, an ac power cord, and a spare fuse. It is available now. Contact B&K Precision Corp. at (714) 921-9095 or http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07mb0AC ********************** 3. Announcements: Opportunities not to be missed ********************** Upcoming trade shows... Feb. 24-28, Wireless Systems Design Conference & Expo 2003, San Jose, California. It's not just theory. It's real-world applications. Take away real examples and solutions you can implement. Save $200 off the regular price when you register by Friday, Feb. 14 for any conference package or register for FREE exhibit hall admission at http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07MC0A8 and use priority code T01. March 3-7, SAE 2003 World Congress, Detroit. This show covers a range of automotive technologies in its 1000+ paper technical program, including extensive coverage of electronics topics. See http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07mc0AD or call (877) SAECONG. March 3-5, Flexible Displays and Electronics 2003, San Francisco, http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07md0AE or call (207) 781-9800. March 10-14, HDI Expo 2003, San Jose. This conference and exposition for the design and manufacture of advanced circuits, high-density interconnect, semiconductor packaging, and related substrate technologies is co-located with PCB West. See http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07me0AF Apr. 22-26, Embedded Systems Conference, San Francisco. This show will present more than 140 conference sessions, including tracks concentrating on system-on-a-chip designs and consumer electronics. Topics will include security, WiFi, audio and video, Linux, and real-time design. For more information, go to http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ0pof0AF April 23-24, The Military and Aerospace Electronics East Show with COTScon, Baltimore, Md. See http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07mf0AG or call (603) 891-9267. June 10-13, JavaOne, San Francisco. Go to http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/flo/y/ePaH0Gl4E70EmQ07YT0Ac ********************** 4. Magazine Highlights ********************** In case you missed them, here are some of the high points of our most recent issue, February 3, 2003. * Editorial -- Volunteering Goes Beyond Emergencies And Holidays * POV: Point Of View -- Several Paths Lead To Passive Integration * Cover Story -- Success Story: The TiVo Box Redefines Television Viewing...As It Creates A New TV Viewer Lifestyle * Leapfrog: Industry First -- Assertions Stand Guard Over SoC Clock Domains Assertion-based verification joins hands with formal technology to squash clock-domain crossing bugs that can elude simulation. * Design View -- Design Robust, Fault-Tolerant Motion-Control Feedback Systems Successful designers will understand the key role played by receiver ICs, encoder signal cabling, terminations, and pc-board layout. For the complete Table of Contents, go to http://www.planetee.com
==================================CONTACTS: Electronic Design UPDATE e-NEWSLETTER
==================================Editorial: Lucinda Mattera, Associate Chief Editor: mailto:[email protected] Advertising/Sponsorship Opportunities: Bill Baumann, Associate Publisher: mailto:[email protected]
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